Firing Line: Villas-Boas rockets up the rankings as Chelsea struggle at home and abroad

So the horrendous eight-game losing streak comes to an end for Wigan but it will do little to lift the mood around the DW Stadium after Blackburn’s 98th-minute equaliser last Saturday denied them a morale boosting three points.

With the Latics rooted to the bottom of the table, the pressure remains on Roberto Martinez whose side’s confidence looks shattered as they sit five points adrift of safety in the Premier League.

An assertive performance is needed form Wigan but it’s so long overdue do they actually have it in them to recover from this latest setback?

Each week we bring you our latest chart of the managers under pressure, and those on Easy Street. Here is Sportsmail’s sack-race rankings - otherwise known as the Firing Line.

No 1: Roberto Martinez - Wigan Athletic

Life is tough down at the bottom and that certainly proved the case for Martinez, whose team twice threw away the lead in a game they had complete control over. Another crunch match at the basement end of the table at Sunderland next. NON-MOVER

No 2: Steve Bruce - Sunderland

Same
old story for Sunderland who still struggle to add to their pair of
wins achieved this season. The injury curse from last term seems to have
struck again but it doesn’t take away from the fact that the Black Cats
are underachieving. UP ONE

No 3: Andre Villas-Boas - Chelsea

Two defeats in a week is all it has
taken for Villas-Boas to shoot up the Firing Line. With a title
challenge fading rapidly and Champions League football in danger of
ending before Christmas, the Portuguese is now under huge pressure to
arrest the slide. UP EIGHT

No 4: Owen Coyle - Bolton Wanderers

Back to their losing ways at West
Brom for their ninth defeat of the season and Bolton are starting to
lose touch with many of the sides in the lower half of the table.
Back-to-back home wins will be the aim against Everton next. NON-MOVER

No 5: Steve Kean - Blackburn Rovers

We have to hand it to Kean. Not only did Blackburn escape through the back door at Wigan with a point, but despite his side sitting 19th, the Glaswegian has somehow negotiated himself a new contract. He really doesn’t look like he is going anywhere. DOWN THREE

No 6: Mick McCarthy - Wolverhampton Wanderers

Penalty or not, Wolves were out-played in large sections at Everton and as a result of their defeat they find themselves back in the jaws of the bottom three. It’s a daunting trip to Chelsea next but has there ever been a better time to play the Blues? DOWN ONE

No 7: Alex McLeish - Aston Villa

Fans will be angry with McLeish. Not so much with the 2-0 defeat suffered at Tottenham but the submissive manner in which Villa went about it. The Scot desperately needs a performance, and a first away win, from his side at Swansea next. NON-MOVER

No 8: Harry Redknapp - Tottenham Hotspur

A welcome return to the dugout for Redknapp at Tottenham and his team looked delighted to see him back judging by their impressive victory against Aston Villa. Redknapp has now aimed to push for the title…steady on though, Harry. DOWN TWO

No 9: Martin Jol - Fulham

Fulham were not quite the attacking threat they were against Tottenham in their 0-0 draw at Sunderland but at least this time they actually came away with a point. It’s just two Premier League victories for Jol though and a visit to in-form Arsenal next. DOWN ONE

No 10: Roy Hodgson - West Bromwich Albion

West Brom have had their troubles this season so it’s a little bit of a surprise to find them in mid-table – even though Hodgson would have been eyeing a top-10 spot at the start of the season. A chance to improve further when they host Tottenham next. NON-MOVER

No 11: Neil Warnock - Queens Park Rangers

Warnock is showing he is getting the hang of the top flight after the win at Stoke and teams will not fancy taking on a QPR side that have shown improvement of late. The Hoops are arguably the best of the rest outside the Champions League-chasing top seven. DOWN TWO

No 12: Brendan Rodgers - Swansea City

The unbeaten home record has gone but Rodgers will take heart knowing that his side took Manchester United right to the wire in their 1-0 loss. No team has conceded fewer goals at home (two) and they host Aston Villa next. UP ONE

No 13: Arsene Wenger - Arsenal

The resurgence continues and with Wenger set to commit beyond this season, his future looks more comfortable too. Arsenal have been racking up the points domestically while also being the only comfortable Premier League team in the Champions League. DOWN ONE

No 14: Tony Pulis - Stoke City

One win in eight now for Stoke and we can’t even blame the latest home defeat against QPR on playing in the Europa League a few days earlier. The Potters are sliding down the table but still have a three-point gap over the bottom three. UP ONE

No 15: Alan Pardew - Newcastle United

All good things come to an end and Manchester City were on hand to ensure Newcastle’s unbeaten start hit the buffers. The key for Pardew will be making sure his side bounce back and avoid going on a new run…one of negative results. UP ONE

No 16: David Moyes - Everton

It wasn’t as easy as supporters would have wanted it but Everton’s win against Wolves ensures they are moving in the right direction again. Moyes will hope his side have found their confidence again now they have kick-started their season. Bolton next. DOWN TWO

No 17: Paul Lambert - Norwich City

Out-gunned by Arsenal but it wasn’t without trying and Norwich have proved time and again this season they have the desire to fight until the very last whistle. But that’s no wins in four now as they look to turn around their fortunes at home to QPR next. NON-MOVER

No 18: Roberto Mancini - Manchester City

The curious case of the Champions League. No one can touch Manchester City in the Premier League but Mancini finds his future in Europe’s elite competition out of his hands. A return to the Europa League will provide zero consolation? NON-MOVER

No 19: Kenny Dalglish- Liverpool

Plenty of the credit surrounding Liverpool’s win at Chelsea must go to Dalglish, whose second-half subs wrestled control of the game away from the Blues and created a late sucker punch to take all three points. Manchester City visit Anfield next. NON-MOVER

No 20: Sir Alex Ferguson - Manchester United

Manchester United are still the only side that can keep City within the horizon in the Premier League. But they are making a complete hash of trying to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League after more poor defending in the draw with Benfica. NON-MOVER